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dumb question, but I'll ask it anyway...............

I dont have access to a range for three weeks or so but want to load some 284 Winchester for my spare barrel on my F-Class rig. It's currently wearing it's 6BR barrel which I dont wish to take off unless absolutely necessary. This whole rig is new to me and to date have only shot one 600yd match with the 6mmBR.
The question; I assume I can use the Hornady OAL guage buy just holding the modified case in the chamber and do all necessary measurements, Told you it was a dumb one. Anything I should be aware of that might stuff me up?
 
If the .284 Win barrel is already chambered, the answer to your question is probably "yes", with some qualifications. I have measured the distance to "touching" using the Hornady OAL gauge a number of times on just a chambered barrel. Everything ***should*** touch in the same spots as when the barrel is actually screwed into the action and mounted in the stock.

Having said that, I have occasionally observed very slight differences in CBTO and COAL measurements made using the two different approaches, on the order of </= 5 thousandths. I have always assumed that this was caused by being forced to hold the OAL gauge in a slightly different manner with only a chambered barrel, as opposed to having most of the tool supported by the action when you push the bullet in to "touching" in a rifle with the bolt removed. Other than that, I cannot explain why there should be any discrepancy in measurements made using the two approaches. In any event, using the chambered barrel by itself with the Hornady OAL gauge ought to get you very close. Putting some type of flat support just in front of the barrel chamber (i.e. box, book, etc.) that mimicked the effect of the raceway of the action in terms of supporting the OAL gauge might also be a good idea, but I haven't tried that.
 
Your loading for accuracy , seems like your getting antsy and want to load for the other barrel . I would wait until it in the rifle , is this a brand new barrel ?
 
I assume I can use the Hornady OAL guage buy just holding the modified case in the chamber and do all necessary measurements
Yes you can. A barrel doesn't have to be on the action to do this. Matter of fact, I find it to be much easier to do.
 
The guy who does my barrels always gives me a stub with a shoulder/neck/lands cut in it. Makes life real easy to find the C.O.L. at the lands
 
Hi Guys, thanks for your replies. Not a new barrel, it has 300+ rounds through it to date apparently. Yes I am in a hurry to get some of those beautiful long Scenars loaded although it will be a while before competition time comes around. Our range closes for the winter due to access problems.
 
I have always assumed that this was caused by being forced to hold the OAL gauge in a slightly different manner with only a chambered barrel, as opposed to having most of the tool supported by the action when you push the bullet in to "touching" in a rifle with the bolt removed.

Well, Hornady also makes the bent model for non-bolt action rifles, which would be largely unsupoorted..

Since the measurement is based on what is essentially a case in the chamber, with the bullet pushed from there into the rifling, I can't see what difference supporting the tool or not would make.
 
If loading in a lose barrel how do you take in to account the gap between the back of the barrel and the bolt?
 
If the barrel's already off, I'd just use it like a barrel stub - seat it long, and drop it in until the case seats all the way. Then inspect the ogive for land marks and fine tune. It's way easier than using tools. If you must get it perfect, I'd put the barrel on and use the stripped bolt method. I don't see why people obsess over getting it perfect, though - it's just a reference datum. I set my dies to zero with a new barrel stub, and that's where zero stays until the barrel is toast - I never find the lands again for that bullet. If the zero point is off .005", so be it.
 
Imo ...Too easy to swap barrels.
After all .. You're wanting to play with your toys !
 

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